Heterophyes Heterophyes (Intestinal Fluke)

Heterophyes Heterophyes (Intestinal Fluke) General Information

Heterophyes Heterophyes (Intestinal Fluke) is caused by the infection with a trematode, a minute intestinal fluke called heterophyes heterophyes. This type of parasite belongs to the genus of Heterophyes, being the most common of the twelve species that compose the actual genus. This is a small fluke due to its dimensions. It measures only 0.5 to 0.8 millimeters in width and 0.8 to 2 millimeters in length and has a broadly rounded posterior ending. It has an oral sucker that is subterminal and represents one third of the size that the ventral sucker has. The trematodes causing Heterophyes Heterophyes (Intestinal Fluke) lives in the intestines of humans, in jejunum and ileum. The life cycle of these worms is simple. They produce eggs that get into the water after they have been excreted in the feces. The first host of the eggs is actually an intermediate host, represented by the snails that ingest these eggs. Inside the snails, the eggs will hatch, undergoing their developmental cycle. Cercariae will form and then will emerge from the snails; after this will encyst on their second host, represented by freshwater fish and brackish. Here, the cercariae will turn into metacercariae. This last stage of the parasitic worm will infect the human’s organisms after the raw vegetables and undercooked fish are ingested. Inside the human body, the worms attach to the small bowel, causing mild inflammation, shallow ulcers and superficial necrosis. Because the eggs are very small, they easily enter into the blood vessels and embolize the brain.

Heterophyes Heterophyes (Intestinal Fluke) Symptoms

Heterophyes Heterophyes (Intestinal Fluke) is a medical condition that appears more frequently in the Middle East, in Egypt and in the Far East. When it occurs in other parts of the world it means that it has come from the immigrants from the endemic areas (from parts of North Africa and Asia). Both men and women can be affected by the disease, as well as all the age groups; it seems that this infection is more severe in children. If the infection with a heterophyes heterophyes worm is mild, the patients suffering from the medical condition will show no signs and symptoms on the physical examination. It is said that they are asymptomatic patients. If Heterophyes Heterophyes (Intestinal Fluke) is more severe, then the respective person will be asthenic, and will have edema on the lower extremities and on the face, along with gray and harsh skin aspect. The most common clinical presentations of Heterophyes Heterophyes (Intestinal Fluke) include: nausea, vomiting, intestinal colic, dyspepsia, intestinal mucosal diseases, weight loss, or ulcer related abdominal pain. If the eggs or even the adult worms enter the blood vessels and emolize the brain, the signs and symptoms produced will be similar to those of a cerebral hemorrhage. Chronic congestive failure of the heart (for example valvular damage) and potentially fatal myocarditis appear if the eggs have traveled to the heart and entered into the mesenteric lymphatics. These cases may end with the patient’s death. Many cases of this kind were reported in Philippines.

Heterophyes Heterophyes (Intestinal Fluke) Treatment

Once you start experiencing signs and symptoms specific for this medical condition known as Heterophyes Heterophyes (Intestinal Fluke), you should call your health care provider and establish a date for the consultation. The examination of the patient must be done carefully in order to avoid mistaking this disorder with another one. Heterophyes Heterophyes (Intestinal Fluke) can have many similarities with Metagonimus yokogawai because the eggs of the worms causing these medical conditions can not be distinguished. The eggs of the worms that cause intestinal fluke can also resemble very much with those of Opisthorchis or Clonorchis.Usually, the diagnosis is put after samples of the patient’s stool were examined. If the patient suffers from Heterophyes Heterophyes (Intestinal Fluke) then the microscopic identification will reveal the presence of the trematode’s eggs. The stool examination helps the health care providers to visualize the adult worms and the ova. Laboratory findings may reveal eosinophilia or anemia. It is very important to discover and treat this disease on time because if not, severe complications may appear. Only after the exact diagnose is established, the health care provider can proceed with the adequate treatment.

The drug category used to treat patients infected with heterophyes heterophyes is the anthelmintics. The goals of any pharmacotherapy are to prevent the complications that may occur, to reduce the morbidity and mortality rates and to eradicate the infection. In many cases, the main drugs of choice are praziquantel, prescribed as Biltricide and albendazole, prescribed as Albenza. Although the signs and symptoms of the infection and the infection itself may resolve without a certain therapy, most of the medical professional choose to provide treatment to the patient. The person suffering from Heterophyes Heterophyes (Intestinal Fluke) will first receive 20 mg/Kg of Praziquantel, at eight hours for just one day. This medicine is prescribed because Bithionol is not available in this medical disorder. If intercurrent bacterial infections occur, the individual will need to be treated with the appropriate therapy based on antibiotics, administrated in the outpatient or inpatient settings. The activity of a person who is infected with this intestinal parasite is also very important because all the patients should be on bed rest and their efforts, minimums. When treating a person who suffers from Heterophyes Heterophyes (Intestinal Fluke), the doctors should take care of his or her diet. The diet of any infected person should have a rich content in proteins. Those people, who know that they have the parasite, should avoid eating undercooked fish or raw vegetables. If the raw vegetables are properly cleaned, processed and then cooked by immersing them in boiling water for just one minute, the risks of getting infected are significantly decreased. In endemic areas, the raw vegetables must always be cleaned in clean fresh water and then peeled. Death is very rare when suffering from this parasitic infection, but it can occur in those persons who have a heavy worm burden and who also suffer from prostration or cachexia.